Hi all
Hope everyone is doing well. I'm Emma, in my early 30s and was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer last week (squamous cell carcimona on my forehead). There's no history of any form of cancer in the family, so it's a bit of a suprise. It's well differentiated, which I understand is good. But somehow the report results came back saying it's both low risk and very high risk carcimona (which I don't 100% understand how it can be both of those things... but still... ).
Was doing alright with the news. Up until yesterday that is, when I went in to clinic to have tissue removed, only to find my follow up surgery had been cancelled due to an administrative error.
It's been rescheduled for 9 days time. Which I guess isn't that long to wait comparatively. But I'd psyched myself up for surgery yesterday, and I'm really am not coping well with the waiting! The strategy I had before to deal with the diagnosis was basically just focusing on getting the surgery done and convincing my brain it just had to get through that and then everything would be over. Now that surgery has been cancelled, my brain won't fall for the trick the second time!
I appreciate compared to other cancers, the form I have is slow, low risk and external. But it's also apparently according to the lab report, urgent and very high risk ( again, somehow as well as also being low risk, which I don't understand).
I just want the cancer gone so I can get on with my life again. At the moment, the worry is stopping me sleeping, working effectively and enjoying life. I'm not actually physically ill from the cancer, but I'm making myself ill from the way I'm framing the waiting and situation in my mind.
Does anyone have any better stragegies to cope with the waiting please?
Thanks
Emma
Hi Emma Bluemeany and welcome to the Community but sorry to see you joining us and to hear about your diagnoses. This is such a stressful and challenging time but when it comes to support there is nothing better than talking with others who are on the exact same cancer and treatment journey.
The Community is divided into support groups (discussion rooms) and I do see that you have joined and put up a post in our dedicated Skin cancer group. This is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.
Macmillan have many support services so do check out the Macmillan Support Line open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. These services provide cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear. We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow a few working days for a reply.
We also have our Telephone Buddy Service where you can be matched with someone who understands what you're going through, and they'll give you a weekly call.
Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and aim to give support to all the family.
Do get back to me if you need further help.
((hugs))
